8 Ways to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

Brace yourself, Womanistas! New Year’s is fast approaching and with it comes that annual rhythm of resolutions we hope to maintain to ensure our next 12 months are better, healthier and less stressful. Oh, the possibilities!

Yet the truth is, life gets in the way and staying on track is super frustrating. We make a list, we check it twice and boom — it never works out. But you’re certainly not alone in that irritation.

Researchers at the University of Scranton found only 8 percent of people successfully achieve resolutions every year, which means 92 percent fail. While it might seem disheartening, we never stop at failure — break out the bicep emojis, please.

In fact, we’re the type to keep going no matter what and to help you stay on track, we’re sharing essential tips that promise to get you working towards goals every day of the year.

Make it realisticBefore you plan, evaluate what you truly want and not what others suggest. Choose goals that are realistic to you and fit into your routines. Don’t opt for last-minute knee-jerk kind of resolutions that you didn’t think about for 364 days a year, but everyone else is doing it. Instead, aim for meaningful goals that contribute to your life and things you actually want changed.

Set short-term goals that become long-termWe love thinking big, but when it comes to resolutions, consider the actions first through short-term goals. If we focus on building a system behind the goals, we are better able to establish objectives and stick to them. If you’re looking to save $5,000 by year’s end, the system that needs your attention is saving every week or month. On the contrary, if goals are big and we approach them all at once — like losing 10 pounds in one month — it can be overwhelming and lead us into a mode of inaction, reminiscent of a deer caught in the headlights. Don’t be the deer.

Limit resolutions to a number you can handleIf you start seeing progress early on, keep those strides going but don’t add on or tweak them with more. Keep resolutions to a minimum, like two or three, and stay focused throughout the year. Not only can additional goals or bigger tweaks hinder you from reaching goals, but it can also get in the way of others and keep you back.

Be specific when making resolutionsBe precise when it comes to your resolutions. If you want a beach body and hope to lose pounds for a healthier you, set aside hours in the day that you can actually go and stick to them. Sometimes joining classes can help you to stay accountable. Additionally, apps can help you stay responsible and be sure to tell friends — employing a buddy system can be beneficial too.

Write down goals and visualize itBy integrating creative visualization into resolutions and positive talk, we effectively provide strength and motivation to our drive. As a natural process that allows us to be the architect of our own lives, writing down goals and visualizing them helps us manifest energy and focus into our waking life, and build a resilience powered by drive.

Revel in your victoriesAs you make progress, treat yourself. If weight loss is your goal, create a tiered system of prizes with a new wardrobe piece as the “grand prize.” Yet however you choose to reward yourself, make sure it doesn’t hinder goals or offset your objective. Celebrate with positive rewards that encourage you to go further, while helping you to feel happier and healthier.

Consider the journey, not the outcomeWhile working towards goals, enjoy the journey. If you’re taking foreign language classes, be social and get to know your peers. Additionally, if you’re hitting the gym and looking to lose pounds, stick to that healthy diet and your favorite equipment. Whatever happens, have fun. You learn a lot about yourself through set resolutions and being mindful of your identity will make it easier to accomplish.

Don’t give upSome days we just hit a wall, but whatever happens — don’t give up. If something is not working, it’s okay to modify the resolution or bring it down a notch. Keep trying to become a better version of yourself every step of the way. If you’re unable to save $100 a week, knock it down to $50 or even $25. Be sure to forgive yourself along the way and be grateful for what you have accomplished because every effort counts and is surely something to be proud of by year’s end.

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Tania Hussain is a native of Toronto and a Hoosier at heart, studying journalism at Ball State University in Indiana. She has a mad love for fine cheese, film, music, and meeting people upon her many travels. When Tania’s not writing at Womanista, she can be found going for long nature runs, rooting for the Indianapolis Colts and St. Louis Cardinals, photographing sights and food, or writing for her online magazine, The Hudsucker. She is also a member of the Indy-based, Society of Professional Journalists—one of the oldest organizations in the U.S. that promotes and represents journalists.

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